Methods of and means for running-in engines



Aug. 2, 1 955 R. .1. BROOKS METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR RUNNING-IN ENGINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 21 1951 Jan yro Aug. 2, 1955 Filed Nov. 21, 1951 R. J. BROOKS 2,714,243

METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR RUNNING-IN ENGINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 2, 1955 R. J. BROOKS METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR RUNNING-IN ENGINES Filed Nov. 21, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 2, 1955 R. J. BROOKS METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR RUNNING-IN ENGINES Filed Nov. 21, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qua wmg Evan-Ina 4, 7;, (2mm 1955 R. J. BROOKS 2,714,243

METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR RUNNING-IN ENGINES Filed Nov. 21, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 5 H m E f/vvzlvrae.

United States Patent METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR RUNNING-IN ENGINES Robert John Brooks, Hitchin, England, assignorto Geo. W. King Limited, Hitchin, England, a British company Application November 21, 1951, Serial No. 257,599

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 24, 1950 1 Claim. (Cl. 29--89.5)

This invention relates to a method of and means for running-in engines, e. g. internal combustion engines and other machines involving moving parts which are associated with a rotary shaft, rotor or other rotary member which by being driven will result in the engine or machine being run-in.

It is the object of the invention to provide means whereby engines which are assembled on an endless belt or conveyor may be run-in while still on the assembly line.

According to the present invention the method of running-in engines or the like whilst being translated through successive stages on a conveyor consists in moving a prime-mover into poriximity to the engine or the like to be run-in and coupling the same to an input rotary driving member of said engine or the like, e. g. the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, moving said prime-mover along with the engine or the like through a. predetermined distance and simultaneously imparting a drive to said engine or the like and subsequently disconnecting said .prime-mover and returning the same to its starting point in readiness for a further cycle of operation.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the means for runing-in engines or the like whilst being translated through successive stages on a conveyor include a mobile driving rig or the like comprising a mobile frame or carriage a motor mounted on said frame or carriage, means associated with said motor whereby it may be drivingly coupled to the input rotary member of the engine or the like to be run-in and a pump adapted on op-,

eration to circulate oil through the engine or the like during such time as it is coupled to the motor.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a conveyor system in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 2 but on a larger scale.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the motor rig which is also shown in side elevation in Figure '3.

Figure 7 is an end view of the rig shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of oil drainage system.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified form of conveyor system.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 generally denotes a main conveyor which may be of any convenient type upon which engines, e. g. internal combustion engines are assembled. In the embodiment illustrated each engine is assembled on a pallet or trolley 11 which is positioned on the conveyor 10 and moved along the conveyor path.

Each pallet or trolley 11 includes a turntable or other similar device indicated at 12 on which the engine is actually positioned so that during its passage along the conveyor said engine may be rotated through any desired angle up to 360 to allow of complete access thereto during assembly thereof. Preferably means are provided to lock the turntable in any selected position.

At that section of the main conveyor 10 in which the assembled engines are to be run-in a track 13, comprising a single rail or the like, is provided which is disposed parallel. to said main conveyor. Disposed at opposite ends of said track 13 but at a lower level are two transverse tracks 14 which are adapted to provide connections with a second track 15, hereinafter termed the return track, which comprises two spaced parallel rails which extend parallel to and are disposed in the same plane as said first-mentioned track 13. Mounted on each of the transverse tracks is a mobile truck or trolley 16 here inafter termed a cross-truck having at its upper part two spaced parallel rail sections 17 which are adapted on movement of said cross-truck to be aligned either with the first track 13 or the return track 15. Each crosstruck is driven from a stationary motor 18 through the medium of a belt rope or the like 19 the ends of which latter are coupled to said truck through the medium of resilient couplings such as are indicated at 20 to allow for a degree of overrun of the motor 18 on arrival of the truck 16 at either one of its two limiting positions i. e. wherein the rail sections 17 carried thereby are in alignment either with the first track 13 or the return track 15. The travel of each cross-truck 16 is controlled by suitable limit switches which are adapted to cut off the motor 18 at either of its two f. carried by the cross-trucks 16. As will be clearly aponly necessary that the track 13 should comprise a single rail on which one set of wheels or rollers associated with said frame or carriage are adapted to run.

- Mounted on the frame or carriage 22 is a driving motor 24 preferably an electrically operated motor, which 'is adapted on operation to impart a drive through the medium of a chain 25 to a carrier member 26. The member 26 carries a shaft 27 which is capable of axial movement relatively thereto, said shaft being keyed or otherwise coupled to said member so that on rotation of the latter a drive will be imparted thereto. The shaft 27 carries a driving dog 28 which is adapted, on outward or projective movement of the shaft 27 relatively to the carrier 26, to engage the normal starting handle claw on the crankshaft of the engine to be run-in, such engine being mounted as indicated above on a pallet'll carried by the conveyor 10.

In the embodiment illustrated the shaft 27 carrying the driving dog 28 is adapted, e. g. through the medium of one or more springs or the like, normally to assume its outermost or operative position wherein it will engage vided such lever carrying at its upper end a fork 30 which is adapted to cooperate with a flange or collar 31 on the shaft 27. The lever 29 is mounted on a shaft 32 which is freely journalled in brackets carried by the frame or carriage 22, said shaft carrying an arm 33 on which a freely rotatable roller 34 is mounted. The arrangement is such that on cooperation of said roller 34 with a ramp or track the lever 29 will be caused to move angularly thereby to move the shaft 27 rearwardly so that the dog 28 will be moved into its inoperative or disengaged position. When the roller 34 passes out of engagement with its ram or track the lever 29 will be free to move in the reverse direction and the shaft 27 will thereupon move outwardly to bring the dog 28 into its operative posit on.

Also mounted on the frame or carriage 22 is a pump 35 which is adapted to be driven from a second motor 36 carried by said frame or carriage. The pump 35 is provided with an inlet pipe or connection adapted to depend into a trough containing oil and with an outlet pipe or conduit which is adapted to be coupled to a convenient point on the engine to be run in. The trough for oil supply is disposed parallel to the first track 13 and is coextensive therewith. The frame or carriage 22 also carries suitable current collector devices 37 which are adapted on movement of said frame or carriage along the first track 13 to cooperate with busbars or other similar current conductors 38 thereby to supply motive power to the driving motor 24 and to the motor 36 operating the pump. As indicated suitable safety guard devices are preferably disposed in the proximity to the busbars 38.

In the embodiment illustrated a single endless driving chain 39 is disposed adjacent the return track 15 for the purpose of moving the driving rigs 21 along such track.

The apparatus above described is adapted to operate as follows:

When a pallet or trolley 11 supporting an engine on the main conveyor reaches a predetermined point in proximity to the first track 13, a cross-truck 16 carrying a mobile driving rig 21 is caused to move along its appropriate transverse track 14 to bring said driving rig into alignment with said first track 13. As will clearly be seen from Figures 2 and 3 the frame or carriage 22 of the mobile driving rig includes a portion which is adapted to project over the main conveyor 10 and on such positioning of said rig, to engage suitable guides carried by the pallet or trolley 11, thereby correctly to position the rig with respect to the engine to be run-in. With the rig 21 coupled to the pallet 11 the movement of the latter will cause said rig to be moved from the cross-truck 16 and on to the first track 13. When the driving rig 21 moves from the cross-truck 16, the lever 29 will be returned thereby to allow the shaft 27 to move forwardly to cause the driving dog 28 to be coupled to the starting handle claw on the crank-shaft of the engine to be run-in. Also as the driving rig passes on to the first track 13 the current collectors 37 associated therewith will contact the busbars or conductors 38 thereby to supply power to the driving motor 24 of said rig and also to the motor 36 operating the pump 35. Preferably the operation of the motors 24 and 36 is controlled by push buttons or the like operable by an operator the arrangement being such that the motor 36 operating the pump will be operated first in order to circulate oil through the engine to be run-in prior to running of the latter. It may be mentioned here that the pump 35 is coupled to the engine by means of a manual operation on initial positioning of the driving rig. On operation of the driving motor 24 a drive will be imparted to the engine to be run-in, and said motor will continue to drive the engine until said rig reaches the end of the first track 13 at which point the current collectors 37 associated with the rig will pass out of 4 1 contact with the busbars or conductors 38 and said rig will pass on to the second cross-truck 16. At this point the lever 29 on the rig will be operated to remove the driving dog 28 from engagement with the starting handle claw on the engine crankshaft and the cross-truck 16 will be set in operation to withdraw the rig from proximity to the main conveyor 10. The cross-truck 16 will move into alignment with the return track whereupon the rig will be transferred to said return track along which it is conveyed by the chain 39 to be eventually transferred to the first cross-truck 16 ready for a new cycle of operations.

The operation of the cross-trucks 16 is effected automatically in timed relationship with respect to the main conveyor 10 the operation of the driving motor 18 associated with each of said trucks being controlled by means 7 of suitable came switches or the like disposed in proximity and the return track 15.

The oil circulated through any engine to which the driving rig is coupled may conveniently be drained from the sump of said engine and led into a trough such as is indicated at 40 (Figure 3) which is coextensive with and parallel to the path of travel of the engine during the time it is being run-in. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 the used oil is led from the trough 40 through a drain pipe 41 to a conduit 42 whence it is delivered to a filtering and/or cleaning system from which it may be returned to the oil supply for recirculation in any convenient manner.

In Figure 8 an alternative arrangement is illustrated for handling used oil which has been circulated through engines being run-in. In this case an inclined tray or the like 43 is disposed below the path of travel of the engines on the main conveyor 10, the oil delivered to such tray flowing into a gutter 44 whence it is led by a drain pipe 45 to a trough 46. From the trough 46 the oil may be fed through a filtering and/or cleaning system prior to its return to the oil supply trough for re-circulation.

Although in describing the operation of the above system reference has been made only to a single driving rig 'it is obvious that a plurality of such rigs may be provided being caused to pass in succession around the circuit above described.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figure 9 50 denotes a main conveyor of any suitable type on which engines, e. g. internal combustion engines, designated generally by 51 are assembled. As in the preceding embodiment each engine is assembled and supported on a pallet or trolley similar to the pallet or trolley 11, which is positioned on the conveyor 50 and moved thereby along the conveyor path.

Disposed above that section of the conveyor 50 wherein running-in of the assembled engines is to be effected is an overhead track 52 which is adapted to provide a runway for load carrying trollies 53 from which driving rigs 54 are suspended. The driving rigs which are similar to that above described with the exception that the wheels or rollers 23 will be dispensed with, are adapted to be coupled to the engines to be run-in and to travel along therewith while performing the running-in operation. The overhead track 52, which is coextensive with the running-in section of the main conveyor 50, is disposed horizontally in a plane above that of said conveyor being located vertically above the conveyor or displaced somewhat laterally with respect thereto. In the case where the overhead track 52 is displaced laterally it will nevertheless extend parallel to the conveyor. Disposed vertically above the horizontal overhead track 52 is a second similar track 55 which is inclined with respect to the horizontal and is hereafter termed the return trac The return track 55 is coextensive with the horizontal track and at each end of the two tracks a so-called lift and drop section 56 is provided. The lift and drop sections 56 may be operated through the medium of electrically operated hoists or through the medium of thruster or other suitable mechanisms. The arrangement of the overhead tracks 52, 55 and lift and drop sections 56 is such that a load carrying trolley 53 supporting a driving rig 54 is adapted to be propelled by the main conveyor 50 along the length of the horizontal track 52 than to be elevated and transferred to the upper end of the return track 55 Whereon it will travel downwardly under the action of gravity to the lower end of said return track whence it will be lowered and transferred to the horizontal track 52 in order to commence a fresh cycle of movement. The lift and drop sections 56 may be arranged to operate automatically at predetermined intervals or they may be controlled through the medium of manually operated switches or other suitable mechanism. Preferably automatically operated stops are provided at the ends of the respective overhead tracks 52, 55 and on the drop sections 56 in order to prevent movement of the load carrying trolley off either of the tracks or sections until the latter are brought into alignment with either of the tracks and transfer from one to the other is possible. Instead of relying on the action of gravity to move the load carrying trolleys 53 and their associated driving rigs 54 along the return track it may be desirable to provide a booster conveyor or other suitable mechanism to impart a positive drive thereto.

The apparatus indicated in Figure 9 is adapted to operate as follows:

When a pallet or trolley supporting an engine on the main conveyor 50 reaches a predetermined point in proximity to the overhead track system the appropriate lift and drop section 56 is operated to lower a trolley 53 carrying a driving rig 54 into a position wherein it may be transferred to the horizontal overhead track 52. In this position a projecting portion or member on the frame or carriage of the rig 54 is as in the preceding embodiment caused to engage suitable guides or the like on the pallet or trolley on the main conveyor 50 thereby correctly to position the rig with respect to the engine to be run-in. With the rig coupled to the pallet the move ment of the latter will cause said rig to be moved from the lift and drop section 56 and on to the horizontal overhead track 52. When the rig 54 moves from the lift and drop section the driving dog will be coupled to the starting handle claw on the crank-shaft of the engine to be run-in in a similar manner to that described above. Also as the rig 54 passes on to the horizontal overhead track the current collectors associated therewith will contact the busbars or conductors thereby to supply power to the driving motor of the rig and also to the motor operating the pump. It may be mentioned here that as before the pump is coupled to the engine to be run-in by means of a manual operation on initial positioning of the driving rig. On operation of the driving motor of the driving rig a drive will be imparted to the engine to be run-in and said motor will continue to drive the engine until the trolley 53 carrying said rig reaches the end of the horizontal overhead track 52, at which point the current collectors associated with the rig will pass out of contact with the busbars or conductors and the trolley 53 supporting said rig will pass on to the second lift or drop section 56 which is then in alignment with the end of the horizontal overhead track 52. At this point the arm on the rig will be operated to remove the driving dog from engagement with the starting handle claw on the engine crank-shaft and the lift and drop section 56 will be operated to elevate the driving rig 54 from the plane of the main conveyor. The lift and drop section 56 will be moved upwardly into alignment with the upper end of the return track 55 whereupon the rig 54 will be transferred by means of a booster conveyor or thruster mechanism to said latter track down which it will run towards the lower end eventually to be transferred to the first lift and drop section for a new cycle of operations.

As indicated above the operation of the lift and drop sections is preferably effected automatically in timed relationship with respect to the main conveyor the operation of the means actuating said sections being controlled by means of suitable cam switches or the like disposed in proximity to the main conveyor and actuated by the pallets or trolleys or elements associated therewith.

As in the preceding embodiment the oil circulated through any engine to which the driving rig is coupled may conveniently be drained from the sump of said engine and led into a trough which is coextensive with and parallel to the path of travel of the engine during the time it is being run-in. From the trough the used oil may be led to a filtering and/ or cleaning system whence it may be returned to the oil supply trough for re-circulation.

I claim:

In apparatus for running in dry engines while the latter are carried by a conveyor along a predetermined path with the sumps thereof open and including a mobile carriage moving along a track parallel to a section of the conveyor path and having motive means thereon for connection to a conveyed engine to run in the latter; the combination of a driven oil pump on the carriage for movement with the conveyed engine, means for connecting the outlet of said pump to a conveyed engine, a trough extending along the conveyor path to collect oil drained from the open sump of the conveyed engine, means conducting oil from said trough to the inlet of said pump, and oil filtering and cleaning means interposed in said oil conducting means so that said pump continuously circulates oil into, through and out of the conveyed engine during running in of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,452,446 Staley Apr. 17, 1923 1,463,882 Fuller Aug. 7, 1923 1,999,657 Heath Apr. 30, 1935 2,102,514 Clarkson Dec. 14, 1937 2,313,804 Cotal Mar. 16, 1943 2,320,739 Knudsen et a1. June 1, 1943 2,352,779 Ehrenfeld July 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,742 Germany Oct. 6, 1932 681,044 Great Britain Oct. 15, 1952 

